County participates in Guinness swim record
Thousands of kids and adults around the globe will try to set a new Guinness World Record for the largest simultaneous swimming lesson at 11 a.m. on June 14.
Lee County Parks & Recreation community pools in Lehigh, North Fort Myers, Pine Island and San Carlos are designated as official hosts of the event.
The original event in 2010 established the Guinness World Record for the largest simultaneous swimming lesson ever conducted to build awareness about the vital importance of teaching children to swim to prevent drowning. Last year’s event grew by more than 400 percent with more than 20,000 participants representing 13 countries and 45 U.S. states.
Tragically, drowning remains the second leading cause of unintended, injury related death of children under 14 and a leading cause of death for children ages 1-5. Research shows participation in formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88 percent among children aged 1-4, yet many kids do not receive formal swimming or water safety training.